![]() Their apathetic play began to bleed through on offense as, for two-straight possessions, they played around the perimeter.īut in a matter of seconds, they regained control.ĭrive-and-kicks from Brown, paired with better three-point shooting, helped them get back into the swing of things. Immediately after, the Celtics looked sluggish. With 5:27 remaining in the third, Derrick White drove the length of the court after a stop and got an easy layup, inflating the Celtics’ lead to 18 points, their largest of the game, and forcing Doc Rivers to call a timeout. They were scrapping for loose balls, sprinting around on offense, and forcing the 76ers to match their pace. Led by Brown and their perseverant defensive pressure, Boston’s lead crept up into the double digits again. PHI/BOS Game 2 | 3Q /JE38ZlKXQc- NBA May 4, 2023 So, the Celtics took that inch for themselves. ![]() The energy could be felt throughout the arena as both teams seemed unwilling to give an inch. To open the third, both sides were playing at a frenetic pace. The question was, could they keep it up? (Spoiler alert: Yes.) Philadelphia’s defensive success prevented the lead from getting any worse, but Boston was seemingly in control. ![]() Through two quarters, the Celtics were up 57-49 and had held the 76ers to 17-of-42 (40.5%) shooting overall and 1-of-13 (7.7%) shooting from deep. His vigor on the defensive end carried over on offense, where he was ultra-aggressive. Unfortunately for Embiid, basketball isn’t a one-man show, and the Celtics’ energy was worlds better than their Game 1 showing.īrown’s defensive play translated to offense, where he was phenomenal, Malcolm Brogdon started to ramp up his play, and most importantly, Boston’s defense never slowed down.īut Smart’s energy deserves a boatload of credit, too. ![]() By halftime, the big man had recorded five blocks and was seemingly on a mission to slow down the Celtics. Embiid’s clumsy antics on offense don’t tell the whole story, as he was a dominant defensive presence on the other end. Philadelphia wasn’t ready to lie down, though. Within a couple of minutes, their lead ballooned to double digits thanks to their continued defensive pressure and relentless offensive activity. The second quarter saw Boston start to build momentum. Embiid recorded a nice bucket over Grant Williams but hit the hardwood more times than he had made field goals in the first. Meanwhile, Embiid made his presence known. Marcus Smart is a hilarious basketball player /ffhud96dgR- Pull up shoot May 4, 2023 A pair of Marcus Smart miracle shots helped propel the Celtics forward. Defense remained the headline in Game 2, but this time around, it was for the right reasons.īy the end of the first, Boston’s offense began to find a rhythm, while Philadelphia’s struggles persisted. It was a complete 180-degrees from Game 1, in which both teams poured on points. At the first timeout in Game 2 (6:48 remaining in the first), there had already been seven attempts. In Game 1, there were only two free throws attempted in the first half. Brown picked up Harden beyond half-court and refused to let him get comfortable.īrown wasn’t the only nuisance, though, as both teams decided to ramp up their defensive pressure. ![]() Brown drew the James Harden assignment and made it his mission to pester the 76ers star, who put up 45 points in Game 1. Jaylen Brown led the charge, asserting himself on both ends as the Celtics spoiled Joel Embiid’s much-anticipated return following his MVP coronation.įrom the jump, the Celtics put an emphasis on the defensive end. With an ugly Game 1 loss lingering over their heads, the Boston Celtics returned to form on Wednesday night, overpowering the Philadelphia 76ers en route to a 121-87 Game 2 win. ![]()
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